p>By describing the creation of the EU as "a low point in Europe's 'good ideas' trend," "confusing," and "one of the worst ideas in the history of diplomacy" in her column It's Miller Time, Alyssa Miller reveals a tremendous lack of historical understanding and contextualization which should disqualify a senior journalism major like her from entering journalism professionally.
After the devastating years of both world wars, European countries came to realize that conflict and war only bring death, destruction, despair, and pain. As a result, the EU-forerunner EEC (European Economic Community) was founded among six countries to guarantee prosperity, partnership, and, first and foremost, peace on a continent torn apart by nationalisms for almost two thousand years. These countries cooperated multilaterally, which, of course, includes engagement in diplomacy, meetings, debates, arguments, and consensus-seeking means of communication to prevent the emergence of another bully in the sandbox who would again, like Germany before, demand a divisive "either you are with us or against us" mentality.
Instead of complaining about the "ridiculous amount of langauage barriers" in the EU, Miller should see this as an opportunity and challenge. I am from Germany, had nine years of English and five years of French at school, speak and understand Dutch, Spanish and Italian. Due to the close proximity of countries, there is a need to learn foreign languages which may sound confusing to someone growing up in an American-English ... monoculture. In Europe, you easily come into contact with many cultures and all its implications, which means you have to learn to negotiate, listen, debate, communicate--key factors in a world that is becoming more and more interdependent. You cannot "just take over Europe and tell them how to run their government," as Miller suggests. This statement alone shows an anti-democratic, imperial, twisted and sickening understanding of dealing with foreign countries, and, by extension, other people. Bullying and force only result in short-term goals, resentment, and further aggression. How many wars have originated from the EU since its foundation, I ask you, Alyssa?
On a final note: Rome wasn't built in a day, the EU is not even 60 years old, and the U.S., with its 228 years, is far from perfect.
Harold Leusmann
Graduate student, Department of English
hleusmann@bsu.edu
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